Purpose: Develop a player's ability to control the puck
using only the backhand side of the blade. Only correct cupping of the puck will
allow the skater to move fluidly through the cones using only the backhand.
Skaters should develop to keep the puck ahead of them then to follow the puck
around the cones. Strong development of the backhand will transfer to a better
understanding and use of the forehand puck handling.

Directions: Cones are set up in a line from the goalie
line to the blue line for the skaters to circle around. Skaters maneuver around
the cones using only the backhand side of their stick. Players should exit one
cone at a good angle to enter the next cone (watch over steering on cone exits).
After getting to the top of the cones they skate across the blue line, perform a
tight turn or pivot, and traverse back through the cones again. After the last cone they
pass the puck to the next skater in line.

If they lose they puck they must pick
it up with their backhand. Make sure left and right handers are circling the
cones using "their back hands".

Variations: Increase the stagger of the cones from a
straight line to a couple of feet to affect angle of approach on each cone.